Pneumatic-valve mechanism.



W. Al WATSON. PNEUMATIGVALVEMEGHANISM. APPLICATION TILBD DEC.1G,1912.

v 'PatentedJuneSUJm/.

191019979' 2 SHBETS-SHBBT 1 m. mm e W. A. WATSON.

PNBUMATH: VALVE MBGHAMSM. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 16, 1912.

Patented June 30, 1914A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2x WXLLIM A. WATSON, OF

OMPANY, 0F I MALDEN, MASSA() BOSTON, IVIASSACHUSETTS, A

PNEUMATICI-VALVE MECHANSIVI.

Monete.

Specication of Letters Patent. Application filed December 16, 1912.

.Patented J une 80, 1914. serial No. 737,074.

thereto, as it may be employed in connection with mechanisms other than musical ones.

which employ devices actuated by pneumatics.

ln mechanisms of this character as heretofore ,generally constructed, it has been difcult to inspect and repair the automatic valve mechanisms because et the necessity of removingy other parts in order to ,Qjain access to the valves and other contained meinheis In my applications 27?,l9l), tiled September S, 1905, and 674,849, tiled February l., i912, I have disclosed and claimed constructions of shells which carry valve devices, such shells being seamless and independently removable from the piano or other instrument Without disturbing' other' parts, the shells carrying' the valves which control the passages Jfor the individual operation of power pnei 1m a ti cs.

The object ofthe presentI invention to Iprovide improvements in the structure oi the shell, which l shall now proceed to des'cribe andclaim. n

0l the accompanying drawings: lV is a sectional elevation of my improved shell unit and valve mechanism, in connection with sullicient other parts ot' a selfplaying piano to illustrate the utility ot the present invention; Fig'. la is a detail perspective of the litter or pitman for the top valve; F 2 represents a longitudinal section ol the metal shell, on line 2- of F 4, omitting the members inclosed therein; Figa 3 is an elevation of the shell from the inner end; Fig. l is a` plan view of the shell; Fig'. 5 is an outer end elevation of the shell; Fig. (i represents a horizontal section on line 6-G of Fig. 2;

Fin-ure lshowing' the method Fig. T represents a section on line 7&7 of Figi. G; Fig. 8 is a plan View of the pneu- .matic block, removed .trom the shell; F igs. Q and l0 represent sectionsfon lines 9-9 and 10g-l0, respectively, of Fig. 8; Fig. ll is a detail plan of the removable cover for holding the top valve'in place; Fig. 12 represents a section on line 12-12 of Fig. 1l; Fig. 13 is a front elevation of several shells,

of mounting and securto each other. Figs. l

ing them relatively and 13 are practically on a scale of full`size,

the other iigures being on a larger scale.

To facilitate description, reference numerals are employed to designate tangible parts of the structure, While referenceletters are employed to designate spaces, passageways or ports.

l'et'errinpT first to Fig. l, 20 indicates a portion of the frame, and 21 indicates one ot' the stickers which actuates a sticker of the piano action` said sticker being actuated b f a lever 22 pivotally supported at 23 and pivotally connected at 24 to a Vertical link which has an opening,r (indicated by dotted lines) to receive aA projection or toe 2G that is carried by the lower or movable member of the power pneumatic 27. lVhen the pneumatic 27 is collapsed, due to the exhaustion ot air therefrom, the member 21 is raised and, in the case of a pneumatic piano. a particular hammer of the action is operated. in said Fie'. l is represented a tube board 28 having ducts or windways a, elch ,of said ducts communicating* with a small tube 2S', there being a row of such tubes, one for each shell and duct a, extending transversely of the vacuum chamber b in casing` or shell 282.

here is of course, a power pneumatic for each l,duct -fz and tube 28, while the vacuum chamber l) is continuous for the entire series. y power pneumatic 9,7 and with the wind chest, vis a valve-carrying shell 29, which shell embodies most of my present improve-.

ments, each shell and its valves being` as presently described, so located that it controls the communication between its power pneumatic and the vacuum chamber of the wind chest.

As the shells 29 and their contained Removably connected with each' cured to said body. the section 45 i's a diaphragm or flexible mechanisms are duplicates of each other, a detailed description of one will be ample. vlach shell'is formed with a slotted lug 30 at its front end', a screw 3l passing` through the slot of such lug into the 'front end of the upper member of the pneumatic 27, thereby etiecting a tight joint with said pneumatic. The sidesy of the shell 29 are formed with horizontal semi-circular grooves 32 and with {lat-faced bosses 33 to receive the pressure ot the heads of suitable screws or bolts 34 which extend into the iront of the casing or shell 2.82. Fach screw tits the grooves 32 of tivo abutting shells, and by the removal of any two ot said screws or bolts, the shell 29 between said screws or bolts can be easily withdrawn from position, after loosening or removing its front screw 3l. This structure enables said shells to be fitted closely to each other so as to aid in support.- ing each other and to occupy the least po"- sible space. The internal surfaces of the walls corresponding to the grooves 32 present ribs which reinforce the structure.

The shell Q9 is formed with internal ribs which serve to still further reinforce the shell, and also serve to hold the pneumatic block in place, vas hereinafter described, and

with a horizontal partition 36 and a vertical 'partition 37. rEhe rear end of the shell is open and is held against the front wall oi the vacuum chamber by the bolts 34, suitable packing materia-l being employed as at 43,

l. The shell is t'ormcd with a passageway g (Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4) above the front] portion of the partition 36 and extending down in front of partition 37, the ends of said passageway being closed as at 39, 40. For convenience of manufacture, the passageway is so made as to require a plug to be inserted as at Thepartition 36 is formed with an opening a' across which extends a bridge 4l having a hole 42 to guide the disk valve spindle hereinafter described. p

Reinovably i'itted in the bottom or' the main chamber of the shell and retained there by the internal ribs', is a block 44 which is preferably made oi wood, said block having a raised section 45 which might be integral with the main body 44, but is preferably a separate piece suitably se- Secured to the ytop of cover 4G which may be of kid. A similar diaphragm or flexible cover 47 is secured to the upper face of the block 44 and extends dovyn across the rear end of said block to form a packing between said rear end and the Yfront face o-trunkshell 9.82. A piece of kid or other suitable material to form a packing 48 is secured to the iront end of the block 44` Secured to the cover 47 is a disk 49 which may be of cardboard or other suitable material .cemented to said cover,

i the purpose of said inerme disk being to contact with the lower end of the valve spindle above it, as presently described, Secured to the cover 46 (see Figs. 1, 8 and 9) is a disk 50 having a top facing 51 oi suitable material to enable said disk to act as a valve, as hereinafter described. A small vent 53 is formed in the section 45.

As best illustrated in Fig. l, the block has its raised portion reaching to such a. height that the flexible cover and its valve member 50 are in close relationship to the lower end oi: the passageway 59 which extends up through the roof of the chamber in the shell. Therefore, while the block is readily removable through the open side of the shell to permit examination or repair or cleaning of the valve, yet when the block is replaced it immediately assumes position to actuate the ylifter 60.

ylhe block 44 is formed with two horizontal borings c, c, which may be termed. blind ducts, in that they do not permit the passage of air, because they terminate rc spectively in pockets d, f under the diaphragnis 4G, 47, in order that the latter may be caused to rise and fall, according to the relationship of air sulting from variations of pressure in the ducts c and c, as hereinafter described. It is to be understood however that a very slight amount of airis permitted to escape through the vent Ator a purpose that will be understood presently. l

Mounted in the hole 42 of bridge 41, and above the disk 49, is a'spindle 54 (Fig. l), having lower and upper valve disks 56, '57. rlhe construction off this 'spindle and its disks may be as described in my said application 674,849. Above the valve disk 50, the shell 29 is formed with a. vertical rectangular aperture 59 (Figs. 2, 4 and '6) for the valve lifter 60 (Figs. l and la), said aperture intersecting one end of the passageway g. The valve 6l normally rests upc a raised seat 58 surrounding the upper end of the aperture 59, in position to be raised by the lips 69. of the lifter 60.

The seat Jfor the upper disk valve 57 comprises a removable ring (Figsfl and-4) having an annular rib seat 63 and a marginal iange G4 resting on a seat Fig.' 2) around an opening` 66 in the top of the shell. The flange G4is engaged by the heads, of screws (S7 which pass through ears 68 of said iiange. .By removing the ring can be lifted away to enable the spindle 54 and its two disk valves to be r'emoved through opening 66. The ring has a bridge' strip (S9 provided with a hole 70 tocon-A pressure above them, re-

screws the stitute a hearing for the upper end ofthe f Librero the whistling noise that often results from an irrush of air when there is a thin edge at oneiide of a narrow passage.

The lifter 60, as best shown in Fig. la, is angularv 1n cross section,

and it has a lip `the seat 58 so as to prevent 1t from-dropping below its proper iormal position, said posislightly above lip or lips, when the lifter is raised as hereinafter described, liftsthe valve 61 from seat 58. The angular shape of the lifter provides a clear passage for air along its inner side, while the outer side fits an angle of the rectangular passage a9 so that said lifter can not turn and obstruct the passage of air through passageway g, thus insuring uniformity of low. ln other words, the lifter remains in one corner of the angular passageway with its inner or rentrant side facing the end of the passageway g, and consequently it can never present the slightest obstruction to the passage ofair. Since the lifter is not connected in any way with either the upper valve 6l or the lower valve 50 which latter actuates the lifter, there being merely a permitted Contact of these three parts, there is nothing to interfere with the perfect seating of either valve.

To hold the little disk valve Gl from pci'- -manent dislodgment` I provide a retainer it serving and vloss of the small loose valve 6l. and

comprising a dome-shaped cap 72 Figs. l, ll and 12,) having an opening 73 through which thevalve 61 may be examined. The said cap is formed with an ear l having an openino` for a screw 7G by means oi' which sait cap is seeuredto the top of shell 29. The top ot' the shell is convex, and the dome-cap is formed so that its lower edge fits the curvature of the said top snugly,.hut not air-tight. Therefore said cap will he held in centra position by the one screw 76, but by loosening said screw, vthe cap can be swung aside to give access 'to the valve, without entirely detaching the 72 also acts as a muffler to prevent the issuance of any slight noise that might result from the operation of the valve 6l or lifter 60.

No part of the cap 72 forms a valve seat, 'merely to prevent dislodgment therefore no part of it is inspection of the valve be desired the opening 73 might be -omitted as suiiicient air can leak under the edges of the cap The three coperating elements comprising the two valves 5l, (Sl, andthe lifter or movement transmitter (30 do not touch each other when at rest, as shown in Fig. l, there being normally no physical Contact or con.-

air-tight. lf 'no nection at all between them. It is only whenV or other nstruthe shell is in use, the .iano ment being in operation, that the said three Vto admit atmospheric pressure cap. This cap` elements ever touch cach other as presently described, Therefore the elements 60, 5l can be easily removed from the shell whenever it is necessary or desirable to do s0.

he operation is derstood that, by mechanism well known, there is a. constant partial 'vacuum existing in the chamber o, or, in other words, the air in said chamber is under tension. he passage of the record sheet of the usual tracker board, from which separate vtubes or conduits lead to the ducts a iu the board- 28, causes pertorations of said 'record sheet to one or another of the ducts a. l't is to be understood that each duct a communicates through the board 28 and small tube :'Sf with one primary shell. Only one 'of such" communications or passageways is indicated-.in Fig. l. .Assuming that the one duct indicated at cf in Fig. l has been opened to the ktinosphere by the passage of a perforation o L` sheet as mentioned, such n e f stantly admitted to the duct c i and l0), resulting in the dia being lifted because' the space or cl in the shell above said diaphragv ject to the reduced pressure duc le chamber or space m being constantly open to the vacuum or tension chamber Y). oi the diaphragm 46 raises the a; .f and causing the iatter to act through .f lifter 60 to lift the vaive Gl rtun tie seat 58 lfigs. land f2) when the valve 50, 5l rcacies its uppermost position, it closes the passageway through' the aperture the liiier (S0 occupying lout la small l 'l tace in saio aperture. 'Said litter is ot course so located as not to interrupt the oft air to and through one passa(r sure admitted 'to passa transmitted through tl tical partition 3'? and 1 o the duct e and pocket 7 of the block i, thus causing the cover or diaphragm if? to .se, car /ingwith it the disk 49 and lifting; the spi le 5ft and the two valve disks 56, Ii?. This upward movement of the spindle i4 opens the ture z' in thepartition 36 or the shell and causes the upper valve disk 5'? to ,seat against the rib (i3. Thus the admission oi atmospheric pressure tothe chamber Z above the partition 36 is cut ofi and communication is established between the chambers?) and Z through the 'chamber m and alsoto the passageweys il: (Fig, 3), each sidev of the rib containing the passageway ,7. Since the passageways ,le communicate with port n (Fig. 1)' in the upper member of the power pneumatic 27, the reduced pressure in the passageways c and chamber Z :result atmospheric pressure actuating 'the lower member of the power pneumatic so to cause the operation of the sticker 2l through the connections' hereiuhefore described.

' is instanl"v in the ve Y as follows: It being un- A. The prosir.

Aselected duct a,

` viilve 6l, tendingI to cause the Apressure After the perforation of the record sheetv has passedv beyond the opening of the tracker board which communicates with the the cutting oli' or 'the atnios-' pheric pressure troni duct c and pocket d permits valve 50, 51 to descend instantly under the influence oi 'the atmospheric pressure upon the top of valve til, the vent 53 in the section l5 permittingthis to be done. lhe quiclr downward movement of the valve 50, 5l isl aided by the 'fact that 'the reduced. pressure in chamber m is communicated through said vent to the pocket d. Suid vent is not large enough. to permit air to escape so 'freely through itduring the rst described upward movement of the diaphragm do as to interfere With the lifting thereof. The downward movement of the said diaphragm and the lifter carried therebv is also aided by atmospheric pressure on loose member G0 to push thelower valve down. As the upper valve 6l seats, it cuts oil atmospheric from passageway g, and 'the descent oli valve 50, 5l from its seat against thel under side-oi partition 35 opens conimunication .between passageway g and chamber m. lThis results ot .course in permitting the diaphragm l? above the pocket to descend so that 'the disk i9 will permit spindle 54 to return to the position shown in Fig. 1, closing the communication between chambers Z and m, out opening chainber Z to atmospheric pressure, which is instantly coinnninicated through passageways 7c and port `ato the interior ot the power pneumatic Q7, sotliat the latter will, through the connection described, permit sticker 2l to descend.

isvvill now be understood, 'l have provided a structure oi' shell unitvvhich may be readily removed from the vacuum chest without disturbing any or' the interior adjustments and Without risk of aii'ecting its utility. lWhen so removed, its true condition and that o' its contained members may be readily disclosed Whenever necessary. The structureV oii the shell, although seamless, is such that all of the moving, or movable parts may e passed thereinto or removed therefrom, and the Walls and partitions are integral so as to prevent any pcssibility ol leakage oi air.

'Having described my invention, l claim:

.1. A primary shell for an the character described, having air passage, a valve therefor, a lifter tor said valve located in said passage, and en actuator valve yfor said lifter, said valve, litter and actuator valve being disconnected and adapted. to move independently of eachv other.

2, A primary shell for an instrument oi:

the character described, having anali" passage, upper valve ther-eter, litter tor instrument oj incesto passage, and a said litter, the section and having no positve connection with said ups per valve or with the actuator valve.

3. A. primary shell for an instrument ot the character described, having an air passage, valves for the opposite ends of said passage, and a lifter 'ior one of said valves, said valves and litter being separate 'from each other and independently movable.

Al. ifi primary shell :tor an instrument oi the character described, having an air passage, a litter located in said passage and having a lip at its upper end to prevent it from dropping, a valve above said liiitcr, said valve having noy positive connection with the litter and an actuator for said lifter.

A primary shell for au instrument oil the character described, having communieating air passageways one of which is angular iii cross section, a valve for the upper end of the angular passageway, and a lii'ter angular in cross section 'for said valve located in said angular passageway, the reentiant side of the angular lifter facing the end of the intersecting passageway.

6. A primary shell or an instrument of the character described, having an air 'pas-- sage, a valve for the upper end of said passage, and a retainer for said valve, said rctainer comprisingl a dome-shaped shell having a single ear pivotally connected to the primary shell, the dome-shaped shell being otherwise free, to enable it to be swung aside.

7. A primary shell for fin-instrument of the character described, said shell having a curved top, an air passage through said top, a valve for the upper end of said passage, and a retainer for said valve, said retainer4 comprising a shell having an edge to lit the top otfthc primary shell and provided With an ear pivotally connected to said hell. 8. in an instrument of the character described, a tube board, a plurality oit primary shells having air passages and valves, and a wind-way intermediate the tube board and said valves, said Wind-Way being in communication with all of the shells, tubes extending through the wind-way and connecting x individual shells with individual ducts of the tube board.

9. The combination with a shell unit hav- 'ing an interior chamber and ducts or passageways communicating ltherewith, or a, block removably mounted in said chamber, said block having a raised section andhaving ducts leading. to the latter and to another portion of the block', flexible coverings over said ducts, and valves positioned to be actuated by the flexing of said coverings. l

10. A primaryshell for an imm-aiment f In testimony whereof I have aixed my the character described, havin ir `passignature, in presence of two witnesses.

sage, a valve for the upper en cf pgs- WILLIAM A. WATSON. sage, and a movable dome above aid wlw, y WHGSSQS: l 5 said dome being free from air tight comic@ A. W. HARRISON,

- tion with the shell. B. PEZZETLI. 

